Clay-working machinery



w. A. GHUENBERG.

CLAY WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILE D JULY 30,1919.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

. 3 S EETS-SHEET I.

A TTORNE Y W. A. GRUENBERG.

CLAY WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1919.

P M 1 m J INVENTOR WITNESS W 5% IyqL 7:5]? 12 A TTORNE Y W. A. GRUENBEBGI CLAY WORKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30. I919.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

' INVENTOR Pym T1]? s zuzywfijm B A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES rATsNT OFFICE.

WALTER A. GRUENBERG, 0F BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH L. MARCERO, OF PONTIAC, IJIIGHIGAN.

CLAY-WORKING MACHINERY.

Application filed July 30, 1919.

To all whom it may conce n:

Be it known that l, VVALTER A. Gummnnne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, county of Oakland, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clay-Working Machinery, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines for making clay pipes and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a machine in which several clay pipes or similar articles are under process of formation at the same time. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine in which a measured quantity of clay may be introduced and the product delivered completely finished except baking. An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine having several molds filled in succession and means for adjusting the amount of material inserted into the molds to prevent a waste thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and automatically operating mechanism for forming hollow tubular clay prod nets and minor objects are involved in the mechanism for piercing the clay while held under pressure releasing the pressure prior to withdrawal of the piercing instrument. These andother objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of apparatus involving the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the machine and pug mill for forcing clay into the molds.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine showing operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a sectional detail of the nose of the pug mill through which the clay is forced into the mold. T

Fig. 5 isa' detail of the means of adjusting the amount of clay to be forced through the nose of the pug mill into the mold.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the rod and mechanism for forming the aperture in the stem of the y P p Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Get. 18, 1921.

Serial No. 314,246.

The device consists of a base 1 in whi-.:h a

shaft 2 is mounted driven by z. transverse shaft 3 shown in Fig. which is provided with a worm thereon connected the worm wheel 4" shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to reduce the number of rotations of the shaft 2 in relation to the shaft 3. On the shaft is a clutch operated by a lever (not here shown) to allow the driving mechanism of the machine to be disconnected from the driving shaft 3. On the shaft 2 shown more partlcularly 1n Fig. 2 1s a Geneva action driven by a plate 5 and a pin 6 adjacent the periphery thereof. A plate 6 is formed in tegrally with the plate 5 and provided with a notch 7 as shown. As the plate 5 rotates the pin 6 engages in one of the slots 7 1n the plate 8 and turns the plate 8 quarter of a turn on each rotation of the plate 5 as will be readily understood. the Geneva action being the only connection between the shafts 9 and 2. On the shaft 9 on which the part 8 is mounted is also a. bevel go( if 10 meshing with a bevel gear 11 which connected to and ro-- tates the top or cover of the machine 12 which is flanged over as shown at 12 to prevent dirt or other material entering the mechanism contained in the base 1. Also, on the main shaft 2 is a gear 13 meshing with a gear 14; on the shaft 15 and also provided on the shaft 15 is an eccentric 16 at each end f the machine as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The eccentrics 16 are inclosed by bearing members 17 which are connected with the two rods 18 at each end of the machine connected at the upper ends to the cross bar 19. Guide rods 20 are provided secured in the top of the base 1 upon which the cross bar 19 is adapted to slide upon move ment of the rods 18 as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. In a head21 on the cross bar 19 is mounted a plunger 22 and se-.

cured about this plunger is a spring frameengage the beveled edges 25 of the molds 26 when the head 21 is moved down to form the bowl of the pipe in the mold. As will be noted from Fig. 1, when the jaws 24E of the spring framework 23 engage the edges of the mold the plunger 22may be moved farther down into the mold as the springs 22 allow movement of the plunger while the jaws remain stationary on the mold 26., the springs 22 also holding the jaws in binding contact with the mold 26. By this arrangement the jaw members 24 are yield-able vertically in relation to the head 21, the vertical rods 23 being adapted to slide through the apertures 24: in the plate 25 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It is also to be noted that the rods 18 are provided with springs 18 at the top thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The object of these springs is to allow the plunger 22 to stop if a stone or other hard foreign matter is accidentally placed in the mold.

By this arrangement the plunger 22 stops on contacting a stone or other hard matter and the springs 18 allow the rods 18 to continue downward by action of the eccentrics while the plunger22 remains stationary.

The pug mill consists of a substantially conical member 27 mounted on a base 29 and having an aperture 30 at the upper end thereof into which molding clay may be mserted. A screw 21 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 rotatably mounted with the pup;

mill similar to the screw on a meat grinding machine and is adapted upon rotation there 7 of to force clay forward through the conical member 27 into the nose 32 of the pug mill and thence into the mold. To operate the pug mill I have provided a diametrcially grooved plate 33 mounted on the end of the shaft 2 as shown in Fig. 1 and. provided with a groove 34 therein as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. A rod 35 is provided whi h is adapted to be bolted at the lower end in any predetermined position in the slot 31 as shown. .At the upper end of the rod 35 i provide a tooth member 36 pivotally mounted on a plate 36 which is rota-table on the shaft 39 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5'. On the shaft 39 is a toothed gear 36 in which the tooth member 36 is adapted to engage. the

tooth member 36 being acuated by a spring 37 forcing it into contact with the gear 38. Upon rotation of the plate 33 vertical movement of the rod 35 is produced as will be un- .(:lers tood and the gear'38 is rotated through an are upon each downward movement of the rod Thelower end 4L0 of the rod may be secured atany predetermined point in the groove 34 by tightening the nut 40 thereon.-

a greater or less movement of the rod 35 and also the gear 38 shaft 39 and Screw 31 there- 'on being produced by securing the end 40 near the rim or near the center ofthe plate 33. I

On the top 12 of the machine are provided 4-2 on the shafts 43 as shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, the halves of the molds 26 being secured to the said shafts 43 at each end, the shafts being rotatably secured to the machine top the lugs ll formed integral therewith. As shown in Fig. 2, a cam 45 is provided in the shape of a track upon which the rollers 46 in the end of the rack members 41 are adapted to travel. It can thus be seen that, when the roller 16 passes over the high part of the cam 15. as shown at the left of Fig. 2, the rack memher is forced up and the said gears are rotated to open the mold 26 as shown in Fig. 9. At the right of Fig. 2 where the cam is low, the rack member is forced down by the spring 47 thereby rotating the gears in mesh therewith to close the mold as shown in Fig. 8. As will be seen in Fig. 3, there are four molds 26 provided on the top 12 of the machine. In position 72 the'cam or track 15 is high thereby holding the molds open when the rollers 46 and racks 11 are passing thereover. At about position 72 the track or cam 45 declines to its lowermost position whereby the rollers 16 and rack members 41 ride down to this lowermost position at 72" which closes the two halves of the mold 26.

The low part of the cam extends around to v clines and reaches its highest position at 85" thereby opening the. mold. By reason of the cam bein high from this position to the position 1'2 the molds remain open while traveling over this segment of the said cam 5L5. 7

In an aperture in the central part of the machine top is a case 48 shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7 held in position by the arms 49 secured to theguide rods 20 as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. Within this casing 48 is a block 50 movable horizonta l on the guide rods 51 and 52 and having a rod 53 secured therein. Also in the block 50 is a chuck 55 which holds a piercing needle 56 having anenlarged end 5'7 thereon as shown 1n Fig.6. To'move the block 50 horizontally on the guide rods 51 and lie- I provide a cam 58 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and an arm 59 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 9 and having a V riding on the cam 58 on the shaft 2. At the upper end the rod 59 is formed'with a yoke 61 engaging over a pin 62 on the block 50; It can thus be seen that, by rotation of the cam 58. the arm 59 is actuated to move the block 50 horizontally. Secured in the end of the case 4-8 are two guide rods 63 and 64 which extend out over one'of'the'molds when in position 72 shown in Fig. 3, and'these roller end 60 guide rods are provided with a terminal member 65 having a dog 66 on each end thereof shown more particularly in Fig. On one end of the rod secured in the block is a member 67 apertured to ride on the rods and 6e which is provided with brushes 68 on each side thereof pivotally mounted at 69. in the said member 67 to rotate in a horizontal plane and having lugs '70 thereon stationarily positioned in relation to the brushes 63. Fig. '7 shows the brushes in their normal position with the end of the arm 59 in the position shovm in Fig. its tne cam 58 is rotated, the block 50 is moved to the right thereby moving the brushes in the same direction to brush off any foreign matter which might remain in the mold. About the guide rods (53 and 64 are springs 54; which are contracted by movement of the member 6'? on the said rods toward the casing 48 shown in Fig. 7. As the cam 58 returns to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the springs 54 return the brushes 68 to the posi tion shown in Fig. 7 which also brushes out the molds. While the brushes are in motion over the mold halves the edges hereof are held in parallel relation with the rods 63 and 64 by the springs 65 and, as the brushes are returned to the position shown in Fig. 7, the dogs 66 strike the lugs 70 on the member 67 thereby turning the brushes as shown to brush any foreign matter out of the pipe bowl portion of the mold. By this means the two halves of the molds 26 are thoroughly brushed after each pipe has been formed and no foreign matter remains to clog the mold during the formation of the ensuing pipe.

The mold is shown more particularly in Fig. 3 in the open position and is provided.

with a small groove 71 at the stem end of the pipe which forms an aperture in the mold when closed through which the piercing needle 56 may be inserted when piercing the clay pipe. At the bowl end of the mold is a larger aperture 71 shown more particularly in Fig. 8 through which the plunger 22 is moved to form the pipe bowl, the aperture being of the same diameter as the plunger to prevent the soft clay from passing out of the top of the mold during the bowl forming process.

In operation the clutch (not here shown) on the shaft 3 is actuated to drive the machine through the shaft 2. By rotation of the shaft 2 the Geneva action is set in motion which rotates the machine top or cover a quarter of a turn at a time as heretofore described. After the molds 26 have been brushed out in position 72 in Fig. 3-, a quarter turn of the machine top moves the mold around so that the aperture 71 therein registers directly beneath the nose 32 of the pug mill, the mold being closed between the posias the plunger tions 72 and 7 3 by action of the rack 41 on the cam 45 which meshes with the gears 42 on the mold. In the position 73 a rotation of the plate 3-3 shown in Figs. 1 and 5 forces a small measured amount of clay through the nose 32 of the pug mill and aperture 71 into the mold 26. The amount of clay forced into the mold 26 is adjustable by changing the position of the end .0 of the rod 35 in the slot 34; in the plate 33 as heretofore described. As shown. in Fig. 4, i provide an oil cup 74L connected with a channel 75 leading to an absorbent packing 76 so that, by filling the cup 74% with oil, the absorbent material 76 absorbs the oil and, as the clay passes through the tube '77, it is oiled to prevent it from adhering to the mold.

After the clay has been inserted in the mold in the position 7 3 in Fig. 3 the top is rotated another quarter of a turn and is positioned directly beneath the head 21 on the cross bar 19. In this position rotation of the eccentrics 16 on the shaft 15, as shown in Fig. 2, forces the cross bar 19 and head 21 down by means of the rods 18 and the jaws 2d engage over the angular portions 25 on the mold 26to prevent the two halves of the mold from separating and allowing the clay to be forced out through the mold when the plunger 22 is forced therein. When the plunger 22 is forced into the bowl of mold the clay therein is forcedinto the stem part of the mold thereby forming the stem at the same time that the bowlof the pipe is being formed. While the bowl is being formed, the cam 58 on the shaft 2 rotates,

the high point of the cam engaging the end 60. ofthe arm 59 and the piercing needle 56 shown in Fig. 6 is moved forward and en ters the aperture 71 in the mold which acts as a guide for the needle. When the needle is forced by movement ofthe block 50 it forms an aperture throughout the length of the stem of the pipe in the mold, the needle breaking through the bowl of the pipe just 22 is lifted high enough to allow it to clear. piercing needle 56 is provided with an enlarged end 57 which, upon withdrawal from the bowl of the pipe, retracts the portion of the clay pushed out into the bowl of the molded clay by the needle and leaves a pipe As before mentioned, the

bowl with a perfectly smooth interior. As

shown more particularly in Fig. 6, I provide an oil cup 80 connectedwitha channel 90 leading to an absorbentpacking 81 in the casing 48. By filling the cup 80 with oil, the absorbent packing 81 issaturated thereby oiling the needle56 upon 'movement through the oil saturated packing 81 and preventing clay from adhering thereto when inserted into the mold to form the aperture in the pipe stem. As the plunger 22 and needle 56 are retracted from the mold, the

mold is again rotated a quarter of a turn and the cam 45 being high between the positions 85 and 72, the rack 41 is forced upward thereby opening'the mold at position 85 as is shown in Fig. 8. When the mold is thus opened the clay pipe may be withdrawn from the mold by the operator and. placed on a conveyer belt which delivers it to the baking furnaces (not here shown).

it is to be understood from the drawings especially from Fig. that a number of molds may be secured on the top of the machine, there being four shown in this device,

.one mold being brushed out at the position 72 and another mold being filled with clay 'at )osition 73 a third mold being corec out cores which are usually held stationary within the molds. Another novel feature of the invention resides in the means for measuring the amount of clay forced into the bowl of the mold and by the coring process forcing the clay displaced by the core 22' into the stem of the mold to form the stem of the pipe. It is to be understood that this inventionis not limited to the making of cla pipes alone for, by changing the mold 26 and cores 22 and 56,0ther articles may be made such as insulator tubes, spark plugs porcelains and other articles of similar nature such as would suggest'themselves to the mind of the mechanic.

Having thus fully described my invention,

its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a clay working machine, a base, a

rotatable top thereon, molds on the said'top,

means for rotating the top a. quarter of a turn at a time, means for openlng and .closmg the molds, and meansfor brushing outthe molds, means for inserting clay into thev molds, means for coring out the molded clay.

and means for opening the molds to deliver the molded product at each successive quarter turn of the machine top.

2. In a clay molding machine, a base, a rotatable top thereon, molds on the said top, means for inserting clay in molds, means for oiling the clay prior to insertion intothe tion'.

molds, a plunger, means for forcing the plunger into the mold to force the clay to fill and conform to the shape of the mold, a rod having an enlarged end and means for forcing the said rod through the clay beyond the inner wall of the mold during retraction'of the plunger.

3. In a clay working machine, a base, a rotatable top thereon, molds on the said top, means for inserting clay into the molds, means for oiling the clay prior to insertion into the molds to prevent the clay from adhering to the molds, means for forcing a plunger into the molds to force the clay to 7 and conform to the shape of the molds, means for forcing a rod through the molds to form an aperture in the clay, and means for oiling the rod to prevent clay from adhering thereto.

l. In a clay working machine, a mold formed of two separable halves and rotatable about a center, a pair of reciprocating brushes for brushing out the mold, a pug mill for inserting clay into the mold, a plunger for forcing the clay to conform to the shape of the mold, a piercing needle for piercing the molded clay, means for opening and closing the mold, and means for intermittently rotating the mold to move successively to the brushes, the pug mill, the plunger and piercing'needle to an open position to deliver the molded product.

5.111 a clay working machine, molds formed of two separable halves and rotatable about'a center, means for opening and closing the mold, a pair of reciprocating brushes, a pug mill, a plunger and a piercing needle positioned about a center, and

means for intermittently rotating the molds to move successively to the brushes to be brushed out, thence to the pug mill whereat clay is inserted into the molds, and thence to the plunger to force the clay to conform to'the shape of the mold and the piercing needle to aperture the molded clay and thence to an open position to deliver the molded produc o g 6. In a clay working machine, a base, a rotatable top thereon, a series of molds consisting of two halves each pivotally mounted on the said top, a gear on the end of each mold half, a rack extending throughthe top and meshing with the said gears. a roller'rotatably mounted in the lower end of the said rack, a; track cam on whichfthe roller is adapted to ride, and a spring adapted to hold the roller in contact with the said track.

In testimony whereof I sign this specifica- WALTER, A. GRUENBERG. 

